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Fao-Sijiile of a iMemobial i 14 x 18 i Sent to Mrs. Austik H. Merrill. 



AUSTIN H. MERRILL 



Austin Heaton Merrill was born in Maryland, at 
Newtown (now Pocomoke City), June I, 1859. ^ s 
parents, W. H. S. Merrill and Mary W. Hargis, belonged 
to the oldest and most respected families of the Eastern 
Shore. His preparatory education was obtained in the 
Pocomoke High School, which he attended four years, 
completing the course of study in 1876. One of his 
teachers, a lifelong friend, Mr. R. A. Wilson, describes 
him at the age of fifteen years as "an attractive boy, with 
frank, trustful, and winning manners and that self-pos- 
session and assurance which are born of confidence, not 
especially studious, nor above mediocrity in his standing, 
yet intensely ambitious." 

A literary entertainment was arranged for the closing 
exercises of the school, and to Mr. Wilson was assigned 
the task of drilling the speakers. "Having," as he says, 
"a horror of unnaturalness and the ranting and strutting 
and posing of modern elocutionary methods, he strove to 
impress upon Austin the importance of being natural. He 
had the dramatic instinct and won local distinction and a 
gold medal." From that time on he gave special atten- 
tion to the study of elocution, and spent much time and 
practice in order to break himself of a slow, drawling 
manner of speaking, which was characteristic of him as 
a boy. 

He completed the course of study at the High School 



in the spring of 1876, and in the fall entered Delaware 
College, Newark, N. J. The death of his father in the 
following year called him home for a short time and 
brought him to consider the choice of a profession. Con- 
sulting with his mother, he selected the law, and on his 
return to college he took up the study of Blackstone's 
Commentaries, still carrying on the regular work for an 
academic degree. One of the Professors says of him that 
his mental gifts were good, beyond the average, and 
supplemented by persevering and faithful industry. His 
record at college is a confirmation of this, for notwith- 
standing the extra work he was doing, he made a high 
grade in all of his studies, was especially successful in 
oratorical contests, and at the end of the four years grad- 
uated with the degree of Master of Arts as valedictorian 
of his class. 

When he came home from college he was unprepared 
to begin the practice of law, and his means being exhaust- 
ed, he adopted the usual plan in such cases, he taught 
school. He became principal of an academy at Temper - 
anceville, a small village in Virginia, on the Eastern 
Shore. He continued the study of Blackstone's Com- 
mentaries whenever his school duties permitted, but not 
with zeal and contentment, for he often spoke of his un- 
fitness for law. His heart was in elocution, and as soon 
as the summer vacation was at hand he went to Philadel- 
phia and entered as a student the National School of Elo- 
cution and Oratory. There, under the instruction of 
Professor R. O. Moon, he says he first acquired a high 
appreciation of interpretation. About this time also he 
heard Professor Robt. L. Cumnock, and so he went back 
in the fall to his school at Temperanceville with increas- 



ing enthusiasm for the art of expression and a waning in- 
terest in the forms and principles of common law. 

Near the close of the session he decided to test his 
ability as an entertainer. The village of Temperanceville 
was surprised by the announcement that Austin H. Mer- 
rill would give an entertainment in readings and recita- 
tions on a certain evening. At the appointed hour the lit- 
tle school-room, dimly lighted by lamps brought from the 
village homes and placed about the room on the desks, 
was filled to overflowing. Never did the entertainer 
come before an audience with more trepidation than he 
did on this occasion. The following programme was 
rendered : 

"The Last Hymn." 

''Which shall it be?" 

"Red Jacket." 

"The Jiners." 

"Darius Green and his Flying Machine." 

"Uncle Daniel's Apparition." 

"Artemus Ward's London Lecture." 

"How Ruby Played." 

"Socrates Snooks." 

The evening was declared a delightful one, and his 
friends showered congratulations upon him. His sister, 
who was present on the occasion, says that this success 
determined his future career. 

At the close of the session he resigned the position at 
Temperanceville and spent the summer in Philadelphia 
at the National School of Elocution and Oratory, com- 
pleting the course offered there. "Many students have 
come and gone since he left us," says Mrs. Shoemaker, 
"but among them all none was worthier than he nor more 



teachable. The result of his study was most satisfac- 
tory, and we in these latter years watched his growing 
success with interest." The following winter, 1 882—83, 
was spent at the University of Michigan, where he gave 
private instruction to a class in elocution. He also took 
some lectures in the Michigan Law School, for he had not 
yet obtained his mother's permission to give up the law as 
a profession. 

When he returned home from Michigan he told his 
mother of his preference for platform work and his desire 
to give up the law, for which he said he had no taste nor 
fitness and in which he could never be successful. His 
mother, under the impression that elocution savored of 
the stage, was much opposed to this, but when he ex- 
plained to her and finally convinced her that his work was 
entirely different from what she imagined and not of a 
theatrical character, she gave her consent. Henceforth 
he had no cloud of irresolution and discontentment hang- 
ing over his life. 

During the next three years he held a professorship in 
the Western Maryland College at Westminster, and was 
also instructor in elocution at the Westminster Theologi- 
cal Seminary. 

The summers of '84, '85, and '86 were spent at Mar- 
tha's Vineyard, the first in attendance upon the summer 
school of oratory, the second in charge of the school, the 
third as a student in Dr. Curry's School of Expression, 
which he also attended the next summer at Saratoga. He 
came to Vanderbilt University in the fall of 1886 as in- 
structor in elocution. In 1894 he was elected Adjunct 
Professor of Elocution and Oratory in the University, 



which position he held until his death at Tate Springs, 
August 10, 1900. 



Professor Merrill's educational work was two-fold — 
in the class-room and on the platform. 

His teaching was not confined to students of the Uni- 
versity. By special arrangement a portion of his time for 
several years was given to the Nashville College for 
Young Ladies. He had many private pupils, and a part 
of almost every vacation was spent in teaching in some 
summer school. 

He was remarkably successful as a teacher. This is 
the judgment of the authorities at every institution of 
learning with which he was at any time connected, and it 
is attested by the unanimous opinion of his pupils as well 
as by the observed effects of his teaching. Who ever 
heard a single one of the hundreds that he has taught 
bring any complaint against him ? while many are the ex- 
pressions of praise and even of gratitude. His charm of 
manner and winning personality drew his pupils to him 
in an unusual degree. They mourn the loss of a friend 
as well as a teacher. An old pupil writes of him : 

"Although Professor Merrill was my teacher, I looked 
on him more as a friend than as a teacher, for while his 
instruction has been of great service to me and of lasting 
influence in my life, yet he had that in him which lifted 
him above the instructor and made him the friend who 
takes an interest in our welfare." 

Another student says : 

"I not only appreciated him as my devoted instructor, 
but I loved him as a faithful friend ; he told me my faults 



as few friends ever do, and by his honesty and patience 
encouraged and helped me/' 

A third, writing of his influence, says : 

"Few men have been so decidedly helpful to me as he 
was when I was taking my theological course at Vander- 
bilt. His sympathetic insight, his unfailing good sense 
and frank advice have entered as permanent factors into 
my life work." 

Another says: 

"It is always with pleasure and an inspiration for 
higher living that I recall my relations with him." 

Professor S. H. Clark, of Chicago University, speak- 
ing of him as a teacher, says: "He held before his stu- 
dents the highest ideals, and still better, knew and appre- 
ciated what is meant by high ideals. He urged on his 
students at the University to constant and conscientious 
effort, laying stress continually on honesty of speech and 
manner, teaching to discriminate between the true and 
false, and insisting ceaselessly upon the duty of readers to 
present only such literature as might receive the sanction 
of people of culture. A large part of the South has 
through his pupils been affected by his teachings, and the 
art has lost an exponent everywhere." 

The writer is not capable of discussing in a technical 
way the methods by which Professor Merrill taught his 
students correct intonation and modulation of voice, nat- 
ural and graceful gesture, ease and repose of body while 
speaking; these qualities are characteristic, however, of 
those who have received from him the most thorough 
training. Judging from the teacher himself as a model, 
the principle to which all art and training was made sub- 



servient was that of naturalness and simplicity. He had 
extreme dislike of rant and affectation. 

For a number of years students who have spoken on 
the rostrum at Vanderbilt University have had to appear 
before Professor Merrill in preparation. They have pro- 
nounced him a severe critic, not only of the manner of de- 
livery, but of the matter and style of composition. But 
the criticisms were given with such sincerity and sympa- 
thetic interest, such delicate consideration accompanied 
with kindly suggestions for improvement, that the student 
would go away not offended, but thankful; not in de- 
spair, but encouraged to persevere. 

Teaching was not irksome to him. He had a high ap- 
preciation of the value of the work he was doing. He 
believed that the importance of elocution was generally 
underestimated, and consequently this part of educa- 
tional training was frequently entirely neglected or at 
best imperfectly done. He felt a friendly interest in every 
worthy student, and there was gratification in the con- 
sciousness of having benefited such a one. There was 
to him a keen pleasure in taking in hand a young man 
awkward in speech and gesture, incapable of expressing 
himself acceptably before an audience, and seeing him 
under his instruction develop into a pleasing and forcible 
speaker. 

Professor Merrill considered his most important work 
in the University to be that in the Biblical Department. 
There he had arranged a two years' course in oratory and 
expression. Of all men, unless perhaps the actor, the 
preacher is most in need of training in these subjects. 
How often is the effect of a sermon diminished, the use- 
fulness of the preacher indeed impaired, by a cracked, 



hoarse, or rasping voice, a sing-song or monotonous style 
of reading or speaking, or unpleasing attitudes and gestic- 
ulation ! 

It was Professor Merrill's aim that graduates of the 
Biblical Department should not be hampered by any such 
avoidable imperfections, and that they should be capable 
of expressing without affectation and in the most effect- 
ive way whatever they had to say as public speakers. 
Many a preacher without such training, realizing that 
much of the force of what he had to say was lost in the 
awkward manner of its presentation, came to him for ad- 
vice or instruction in methods for remedying the defect. 

The last public appearance of Professor Merrill at the 
University was in the chapel of Wesley Hall before an 
assemblage of ministers who were attending the Summer 
Biblical Institute. His talk on the weak and strong ways 
of reading and speaking, illustrated with examples from 
hymns and passages of Scripture, was doubtless very sug- 
gestive and helpful to some of those present; and all of 
them appreciated and will remember the generous offer, 
which at the close of his remarks, he put into the form of 
a request that his contribution next year to the Biblical 
Institute might not be limited to a single evening, but 
that he might be allowed to give his services as a regular 
instructor during the whole session. 

It is unusual that an elocutionist is notably successful 
both as a teacher and a reader. This distinction, how- 
ever, belonged to Professor Merrill ; and for the very rea- . 
son that he became so well known as a reader, the value of 
his work as a teacher is apt to be overlooked or underesti- 
mated. The personal benefit derived from his teaching 
by several hundred pupils while he was at the University 



is but a small part of the results. A large proportion of 
these pupils became either public speakers or teachers, 
and through them the wholesome influence of what he 
taught has been felt throughout the South and has been 
multiplied many fold. The erection of the subject of 
elocution into the chair of elocution and oratory in Van- 
derbilt University, thus giving it relatively a higher rank 
in the branches of study than it holds in most other uni- 
versities, was a merited recognition of the qualifications 
of the man and the importance of his work. 

Professor Merrill's platform work was incidental to his 
regular work as teacher of elocution and oratory in Van- 
derbilt University. Granted leave of absence annually 
by the University for two weeks in the winter, he visited 
professionally nearly all of the principal cities of the 
South and some of those of the North. He gave readings 
at many of the leading Universities, among which may 
be mentioned, Columbia, Chicago. Wisconsin, Michigan, 
Virginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and 
Texas; and he appeared on the principal Chautauqua 
platforms. 

He was successful everywhere. Criticism of his read- 
ings was almost universally favorable. To give an idea 
of the impression he usually made upon educated and re- 
fined people, a few extracts from what they have written 
for the press and in personal letters may be introduced 
here: 

Moses Coit Tyler, LL.D., Professor of History in Cor- 
nell University, says: 

"The first thing which arrested my attention in Profes- 
sor Merrill's readings was their note of sincerity. Along 



with this, as I soon perceived, went refinement of method, 
a delicate, artistic forethought, humor, a shrewd insight 
into character, and naturalness, qualities which, taken to- 
gether, imply the absence of all elocutionary mouthing or 
stage vehemence." 

Bishop John H. Vincent, Chancellor of Chautauqua 
University, says : 

"To be pronounced a success at Chautauqua is account- 
ed an honor indeed. Mr. Merrill is regarded as a very 
great success in his chosen line. His work in the class 
room and the display of his versatile talents on the plat- 
form, his refined taste, and his superior elocution render 
him a delightful entertainer, and an inspiring and stimu- 
lating teacher." 

Professor H. H. Boyesen, of Columbia University, 
writes in a personal letter : 

"Your powers as a personator of the most varied char- 
acters seem to me extraordinary, and you show, more- 
over, fine dramatic feeling and exquisite taste in avoiding 
that most dangerous pitfall of public readers — rant. 
Your 'Old Man Rogers,' in 'Esmerelda/ is, in my opin- 
ion, your masterpiece, and I have rarely seen a finer bit of 
dramatic characterization." 

What these scholars in universities of the North say 
in praise of his sincerity, refinement, humor, naturalness, 
power of impersonation, and superior elocution, is no 
more than has been said by professors in nearly every 
university of the South ; and we who knew him well and 
heard him often can without hesitation endorse it all. 

A commanding figure is of great value to a public 
speaker, but not essential to success. Professor Merrill 
did not possess this natural advantage. The first impres- 



sion received by many who heard him for the first time 
was doubtless one of surprise, even disappointment, when 
one of whom so much was expected came before them a 
man of less than ordinary stature, but the disappointment 
quickly passed away; his expression of cordiality and 
sincerity, the mellow tones of his voice, the grace and 
simplicity of his manner, the intelligent and artistic ren- 
dering of whatever he undertook, soon awakened interest 
and good will, often admiration and enthusiasm. 

He never failed to interest young people. Such inci- 
dents as the following one were not rare. Last spring 
while in Louisville under treatment for his health, one 
of his old pupils, a teacher in a large school of that city, 
met him one day and took him up to the school house. 
Though scarcely able to stand, he gave at the request of 
his friend a short talk and several recitations. The teach- 
er afterwards said that many distinguished men had 
spoken before that school by invitation, but none had ever 
aroused such enthusiasm or made such an impression 
upon the pupils as Professor Merrill. 

He was scarcely less popular with the old than with the 
young. The late venerable Chancellor of Vanderbilt 
University, Dr. Garland, was very fond of hearing him. 
No other elocutionist seemed to satisfy him. On being 
asked, just after he had heard a reading by one of the 
most famous of elocutionists, how he liked it, he replied 
very emphatically, "Why, I would a great deal rather 
hear our Merrill." 

He never attempted the reproduction of any selection 
until he had given it thorough study, and knew it per- 
fectly. Once memorized, it was never forgotten, or at 
least with a rapid sketching could be easily recalled. In 



the rare instances in which the lines slipped his memory, 
without embarrassment to himself or the audience, with, 
perhaps, an illustrative anecdote, another piece was sub- 
stituted. His perfect ease and self-possession upon the 
stage quickly won the confidence of the audience, and 
there was not the slightest uneasiness lest he might 
forget, nor apprehension lest he might introduce some- 
thing inharmonious to detract from the enjoyment of his 
recitals. 

Selections for his programmes were made with careful 
discrimination. He was never known to give a reading 
or recitation inappropriate to the occasion or offending 
good taste ; nor could he be tempted by applause to pro- 
long the entertainment to the point of weariness. In 
his miscellaneous programmes he interspersed with the 
grave and didactic many pieces in light and humorous 
vein, but he attached no undue importance to the latter, 
however attractive they might seem to be to the audience. 
It was his custom to choose for the closing number a se- 
lection that would leave with the hearers a serious 
thought, would appeal to their higher and better nature, 
and give them something helpful to carry away. 

Professor Merrill relied less upon the realism of the 
actor, even in his varied impersonations, than perhaps any 
other noted elocutionist. The effects which many others 
produced by means of striking attitudes and facial con- 
tortions were produced by him more delicately and artis- 
tically through suggestion. Thus one's attention was 
never drawn from the subject to the acting of the imper- 
sonator. The praying did not kneel, the sorrowful did 
not weep, the suffering did not writhe, the dying did not 
gasp, yet by consummate art in suggestion, what he 



t 



wished was present in the imagination of those before 
him. 

To an interviewer who asked whether he ever used 
costume in his representations, he replied that he would 
as soon black his face as wear a costume on the platform ; 
that if he could not give a literary character to his plat- 
form work he would not give spectacular work. 

He was not a specialist in his subject. His repertory 
was extensive. He said of one of his professional friends, 
"He is unequaled in Shakespearian roles;" and of an- 
other, "His impersonations are unsurpassed ;" yet I doubt 
not, both of these would have yielded him the palm in sev- 
eral kinds of interpretation. He rarely chose anything 
strongly dramatic, or requiring sustained, rapid, intense, 
impassioned action and utterance. His preference was 
for scenes and incidents appealing to the gentler emo- 
tions of sympathy and gratitude; and it was, indeed, in 
character sketches, humorous and pathetic, illustrating 
what is kind, true, generous, noble in human nature that 
he reached the highest excellence. Exquisitely pleasing, 
too, was his rendition of such bits of child-like simplicity 
as Riley's "The Goblins will Get You," and Field's "See- 
ing Things at Night." 

Elocutionists find a fruitful field in the literature of dia- 
lect. Some of them confine themselves to the Scotch, 
German, Irish, and other dialects which have enriched 
English literature even of the classical period; others 
have taken up the forms peculiarly American — the Creole, 
Cracker, Hoosier, pioneer, and Negro dialects introduced 
by Cable, Johnson, Riley, Harte, Harris, and others. 

Professor Merrill was partial to scenes of life in the 
South as described by Southern authors. It is doubtful 



whether any other elocutionist was so successful in the 
portrayal of the old-time Southern Negro. His rendition 
of character sketches from the works of a number of these 
Southern writers met with the unqualified approval of 
the authors themselves; and so charmingly did he re- 
produce in different parts of the country before thou- 
sands of people stories and adaptations from the pens of 
Thomas Nelson Page and James Lane Allen that these 
authors might have said to him as Joel Chandler Harris 
said to A. B. Frost, the illustrator of his "Uncle Remus," 
"They were mine, but you have made them your own." 

A leading teacher of elocution says: "In his fine appre- 
ciation and fine interpretation of Thomas Nelson Page's 
'Unc' Edingburg's Droundin,' and other stories of our 
best Southern authors, he was without a rival." 

Theodore H. Tyndale, of Boston, writes : "If Thomas 
Nelson Page had written and you had read these stories 
before the war, there wouldn't have been a war." 

The author of "Two Gentlemen of Kentucky," after 
listening with absorbing interest to the reading of this 
story by Professor Merrill, grasped his hand warmly and 
said, "I did not know that was in it." 

The progressiveness of Professor Merrill and the 
steady growth of his influence and usefulness make his 
loss at so early an age the more deplorable. Although 
when he came to Vanderbilt University fourteen years 
ago, his simplicity, naturalness, and attractive person- 
ality won him instant favor wherever he appeared, he had 
not yet gone much out of the limit of simple reading and 
recitation. His more elaborate work, such as "The Sleep- 
ing Car," "Esmeralda," "Scenes from Rip Van Winkle," 
"Unc' Edinburg's Droundin'," "A Midsummer Night's 



Dream," were developed after that time. Then he was 
known only in a few localities; but at the time of his 
death his reputation was national both as a teacher and an 
entertainer. He was a Director in the National Associa- 
tion of Elocutionists and a member of one of its most im- 
portant committees. He was the most noted elocutionist 
in the South, and was considered generally one of the 
foremost rank in the United States. A distinguished 
member of his profession says of him : "He was easily the 
most artistic reader in the South, and in his particular 
sphere had no superior anywhere." 

Professor Merrill had a ready command of good Eng- 
lish, and wrote in an easy, entertaining style. He was 
the editor and compiler of No. 21 of "Shoemaker's Best 
Selections" — series of works on Elocution. He was one 
of the advisory council for the publication of "The 
World's Best Orations," and the "World's Best Essays ;" 
and was a contributor to "Masterpieces of Oratory," the 
first six volumes of which have just been issued. The 
last literary work which he did was the writing of the 
special introduction to "Demosthenes' Orations," appear- 
ing in the last mentioned series. 

His time and taste did not permit reading along broad 
lines. His library does not contain many books on philo- 
sophic or scientific subjects. The standard novels and 
essays and our best poetry, together with the literature 
of the day, constituted his chief reading. He delighted 
in humorous sketches, a spicy, well-written article, or a 
delicate bit of verse. 



Few men had a greater number of warm friends than 
Professor Merrill, In a general way this may be said to 



have been due to the fact that along with the sterling 
traits of character of true manhood, he had also many of 
the gentler ones of a woman, and there was no defect or 
unpleasant feature in his character to repel or alienate a 
friend once acquired. He had a sunny, cheerful dispo- 
sition, manifesting itself sometimes in a playfulness and 
boyishness which endeared him especially to the young. 

His nature was confiding and generous. In some in- 
stances his confidence was misplaced and his generosity 
was exercised to his own hurt; but generally the innate 
goodness of human nature was touched and responded. 
Apparently without the slightest jealousy he used his in- 
fluence to bring before audiences in Nashville and else- 
where in the South the best elocutionary talent of the 
North. 

Place-seeking and envy were so foreign to his nature, 
sincerity and generosity so apparent in his disposition, 
that those who were his rivals were also among the warm- 
est of his friends. The sentiments expressed in the fol- 
lowing quotations from several of the best known elocu- 
tionists writing of him are indicative of this : 

"His generosity was one of the secrets of his greatness, 
and the chief reason why he was so generally beloved." 

"He was a noble Christian gentleman and he has had a 
close grip upon my heart from the very first time I met 
him seventeen years ago." 

"He was full of loving tenderness and loyal fidelity to 
all, with as tender and sensitive a heart as ever beat in a 
human breast, with a kind appreciation of that which is 
delicate and beautiful and noble in the subtle forms of 
human expression." 

"To me he was among the first of the inner circle of my 



friends, towards whom it was impossible to feel merely 
the interest of acquaintanceship." 

"His tenderness and kindness of spirit, his frankness 
and geniality, his courtliness and amiability, made him in 
every sense of the word a man — aye, a gentleman he was, 
and to know him as I did was to make one feel more hope- 
ful, trustful, and optimistic." 

Such was his character as it appeared to those engaged 
in his own special work; and so it seemed to all, indeed, 
who knew him well. 

He was charitable both in will and deed; not harsh in 
his judgment of the faults of others ; forgiving; kind, and 
generous to the poor and afflicted. The inmates of the 
Old Woman's Home write : "He always attended our an- 
nual receptions, no matter how busy he was, reciting for 
us the pieces most calculated to amuse and cheer us, and 
greeting us with such kindly words that we felt his pres- 
ence a benediction." 

A notable trait in his character was his modesty ; not in 
the sense, however, of timidity or diffidence. He knew 
perfectly well what he was capable of doing, and when the 
demand upon him was not beyond his own estimate he 
did not shrink from meeting it or make any pretense of 
unworthiness or incapacity, but accepted the responsibil- 
ity and fulfilled it to the best of his ability. But he was 
modest in that he did not overestimate himself, was unas- 
suming, did not put himself forward in prominent posi- 
tions before the public easily within his reach and that his 
qualifications might have entitled him to expect. His 
modesty is also exemplified in the character of the selec- 
tions which he made from personal letters and public no- 
tices for advertising his platform work. With good taste 



and judgment, discarding those most highly eulogistic, 
he made use only of such as were free from extravagance 
and emphasized the points of excellence which he had 
striven for and which were his in the opinion of compe- 
tent and fair critics. While of course he enjoyed in high 
degree the great successes of his public life, he never ex- 
ulted in them. Appearing before audiences of the high- 
est culture and refinement, he received the most flattering 
acclamations of applause, and men and women of the 
highest distinction came forward and warmly congratu- 
lated him ; yet all this awakened not a particle of vanity ; 
he did not boast of it, he did not cherish it with pride, he 
scarcely mentioned it to his friends. 

He was a man of the finest sensibilities, possessing 
great delicacy of feeling, yet not morbidly sensitive. He 
took no offense at trifles nor harbored any malice. He 
was at enmity with none, and had the good will of all who 
knew him. Observant of the proprieties of cultivated 
society, he had, too, that true politeness which is solicitous 
for the comfort and happiness of others and guards 
against the wounding of the feelings of persons in any 
station of life by an unkind, inconsiderate, or thoughtless 
word or act. Seeing him conversing pleasantly with per- 
sons whom he was known to dislike, one might have be- 
lieved him too complaisant, suspected almost a lack of 
frankness ; but he was indeed perfectly frank and sincere. 
While courteous to all, indisposed by any rudeness to 
arouse needless animosity, he would have been far from 
allowing his affability to be construed into endorsement 
of an unworthy person. 

The lover of good literature will generally be found to 
have a taste for what is beautiful, refined, and artistic in 



other forms. So it was with Professor Merrill. Had 
one who knew him well been seeking him in a city, not 
finding him at the hotel, he would have looked for him in 
the book stores, the art shops, the picture gallery, or the 
concert hall. He rarely returned home from a lecture 
tour without bringing with him some literary or artistic 
souvenir. Nothing delighted him more than with such a 
treasure to bring to those he loved a sweet surprise. He 
had the soul of an artist who takes delight in the beauti- 
ful, whether it lies before him in the panorama of nature, 
or spread upon canvas, or chiseled in marble. A beauti- 
ful face, a noble thought, a delicate feeling, all appealed 
to his exquisite nature. 

Professor Merrill sought companionship and friendship, 
and he proved a delightful companion and a true friend. 
In social life he was one of the most agreeable of men, 
cheery, unreserved, pleasing in manners, entertaining in 
conversation, a charming host, or a welcome guest. Nor 
did he reserve his elocutionary attainments for profes- 
sional use only; but frequently contributed greatly by 
readings or recitations to the enjoyment of social enter- 
tainments and of informal gatherings at the homes of 
friends. 

As in the social, so in the home circle, the amenities of 
life were not forgotten. Every worthy or considerate 
act met with an appreciative and outspoken recognition, 
which was a source of delight to those he loved. 

He was happily married in 1892 to Miss Pearl Daniel, 
of Harrisonville, Missouri. Perfect congeniality in 
tastes, temperament, and character made their home life 
almost ideal. The good influences of that home will ever 



be remembered and cherished, especially by the many 
students who shared its hospitality. 

Professor Merrill's connection with the Old Oak Club 
dates from the fall of 1889. He was honored with every 
office in the gift of the Club. Probably no other member 
was so generally beloved. He was a valuable member, 
and I know that he prized his membership highly. 

His associations with the University were interwoven 
in his being. They were a part of him. Attractive 
offers frequently received from other places were no 
temptation to him. He merely mentioned them with a 
smile and put them aside. He had not the slightest inten- 
tion of ever leaving the University. He was taken from 
it in almost the only way. The loss sustained by Vander- 
bilt University in the death of Professor Merrill is irrep- 
arable. Possibly some one may come who will bring as 
much honor to the University on the public platform, 
some one who will do his work in the class room, or some 
one who will win the universal love of his colleagues and 
his students, but not one who will combine as he did all 
these. No one can fill his place. 

He lived a simple Christian life. To dogmas and creeds 
beyond the essentials of Christianity, he attached little 
importance. The reality of his religion was seen in the 
practice of its precepts in the every-day affairs of life. In 
every sense a gentleman, he passed away "wearing the 
white flower of a blameless life." 



ITINERARY 



Elocutionist for the Delaware 
State Teachers' Association in Au- 

188s. 
In summer, had charge of the 
Department of Elocution at Mar- 
tha's Vineyard Summer Institute. 
In April, read at Concert Hall, Con- 
servatory of Music, Baltimore, Md. 
Read at Ann Arbor, Mich. 
Westminster, Md. 
New York, N. Y. 
Smyrna, Del. 
Syracuse, N. Y. 
Vassar College, Pough- 

keepsie. 
Salisbury, Md. 
Pocomoke City, Md. 
Onancock, Va. 
Princess Anne, Md. 
Snow Hill, Md. 
Georgetown, Del. 

1886. 
In summer at Dr. Curry's School 
01 Expression, Martha's Vineyard. 
Came to Vanderbilt University m 
September. 

1887. 
In summer at Dr. Curry's School 
of Expression, Saratoga, N. Y. 



In charge of elocution at Mont- 
eagle Summer School. 



In charge of elocution at Mont- 
eagle Summer School. 

1890. 

In Pensacola, Fla., in January. 

Monteagle Summer School. 

Read Scene I. from Rip Van 
Winkle for first time at Dr. Price's 
College, in September. 

Two readings in Knoxville In 
December. 



1891. 
Readings: 

Lexington, Mo. (2 readings). 

Clinton, Mo. 

Sedalia, Mo. 

Kansas City, Mo. 

St. Louis, Mo. 

Knoxville, Tenn. 

Greenville, Texas. 

Little Kock Ark. 

Chattanooga, Tenn. 

Atlanta, Ga. 

Memphis, Tenn. 

Union City, Tenn. 

Russellville, Ky. 

Seaford, Del. 

Points in North and Soutn 

Carolina. 
Dr. Price's College, Nashville, 
Tenn. 
A Midsummer Night's Dream, in 
Nashville, December 1 (with music). 
Read at Chautauqua at George- 
town, Texas, and at Chautauqua, 
Lexington, Ky. 

In charge of Elocution in Mont- 
eagle Summer School. 

This year he added "Unc' Edin- 
burgh Droundin' " to his repertoire. 



Attended the National Associa- 
tion of Elocutionists (in New York). 
Had charge of Elocution at Chautau- 
qua, N. Y., in the summer. Gave 
readings at Franklin, Columbia, and 
other towns in Tennessee. 

1893. 
Readings: 

Helena, Ark. 

Searcy, Ark. 

Batesville, Ark. (2 readings). 

Little Rock, Ark. 

Jefferson, Texas. 

Albany, Ga. 

Missouri Chautauqua, Sedalia. 

Atlanta Chautauqua Assembly. 



Attended meeting of the National 
Association of Elocutionists at 
Chicago, gave reading and read a 
paper. Was Vice-President of the 
Association, and presided several 
times. 

1894. 
Readings: 

University of Nashville. 

Union Springs, Ala. 

Tuskeegee, Ala. 

Florence, Ala. 

Albany, Ga. 

Knob Noster, Mo. 

Warren sburg, Mo. 

Lexington, Mo. 

Searcy, Ark. 

Arkadelphia, Ark. 

Conway, Ark. 

Pine Bluff, Ark. 

Batesville, Ark. 

Helena, Ark. 

McKenzie, Tenn. 

Clarksville, Tenn. 

Boscobel College, Nashville. 
Taught at Dr. Price's College, 
also at Clarksville, Tenn. 

Attended National Association of 
Elocutionists at Philadelphia. 

189S. 
Readings : 

Gatesville, Texas. 

Waco, Texas. 

Marlin, Texas. 

Tehuacanna, Texas. 

Gainesville, Texas. 

Denton, Texas. 

Ft. Smith, Ark. 

Fordyce, Ark. 

Greenville, Miss. 

Brookhaven, Miss. 

Danville, 111. 

University of Chicago. 

Clarksville, Tenn. 

Petersburg, Tenn. 

Nicholasville, Ky. 

Baltimore, Md. 

Westminster, Md. 

Boston Art Club, Boston. 
In the summer, gave two readings 
at Monteagle; read at Madison, 
Wis., and at Chautauqua, N. Y. 



Two readings at Talladega, Ala., at 
Pocomoke, Md., and at Harrison- 
ville, Mo. 

1896. 
Readings: 

Crystal Springs, Miss. 

Meridian, Miss. 

Oxford, Miss. (Univ. of Miss.) 

Pontotoc, Miss. 

West Point, Miss. 

Greenville, Miss. 

Columbus, Miss. 

Jackson, Miss. 

Spring Hill, Tenn. 

Carthage, Tenn. 

Talladega, Ala. 

Columbus, S. C. 

At several places in Georgia. 
Attended National Association of 
Elocutionists at Detroit, Mich., and 
read there to the Association. 



Readings : 

Cincinnati, Ohio. 
Baltimore, Md. 
Lynchburg, Va. 
Richmond, Va. 
Clarksville, Tenn. 
Martin, Tenn. 
Read "Midsummer Night's 
Dream" at Vv Oman's Building, Ten- 
nessee Centennial Exposition. 

In summer, assisted Dr. Curry at 
Monteagle; had charge of Elocution 
at Bay View, Mich.; read at Mac- 
inac Island. 



Readings : 

Knoxville, Tenn. 
Chapel Hill, N. C. 
Lynchburg, Va. 
Blackstone, Va. 
Charlottesville, Va. 
Norfolk, Va. 
Columbia, S. C. 
Durham, S. C. 
Lexington, Ky. 
Sweetwater, Tenn. 
Nashville Lyceum. 
Wednesday Morning Musicale. 
Rogersville, Tenn. 



Murfreesboro, Tenn. 
Winchester, Tenn. 
Louisville, Ky. (Hampton Col- 
lege). 
Brooklyn Institute of Sciences 
and Art. 
In summer, attended N. A. E., 
at Cincinnati. Taught at Bay View, 
Mich. ; read at Harbor Point, Mich. ; 
taught at Monteagle, with Dr. Curry. 
Later in the summer, had charge of 
School of Elocution at Missouri 
Chautauqua, Maysville, Ky. 

1899. 
Readings : 

Bowling Green, Ky. 

Lexington, Ky. 

New Orleans (3 readings). 

Galveston, Texas. 

San Antonio, Texas. 

Houston, Texas. 

Austin, Texas. 

Sherman, Texas. . 

Dallas, Texas. 

Fort Worth, Texas. 

Cleburne, Texas. 

Marshall, Texas. 

Corsicana, Texas. 

Monroe, La. 

Arcadia, La. 

Mount Pleasant, Tenn. 

University of Nashville. 

ForVanderbilt Woman's Cluo, 
complimentary to stu- 
dents and faculty. 
In summer, at Monteagle, with 



Mrs. Curry, and had charge of Elo- 
cution at Bay View, Mich. 

1900. 
Readings : 

Fayetteville, Ky. 

Bowling Green, Ky. 

Millersburg, Ky. 

Richmond, Ky. 

Lexington, Ky. 

Flemingsburg, Ky. 

Louisville, Ky. 

Ripley, Tenn. 

Trenton, Tenn. 

McKenzie, Tenn. 

Tuscaloosa, Ala. (4 readings). 

Lewisburg ; Tenn. 

Gallatin, Tenn. 

Nashville, Tenn. 

Columbia, S. C. 

Spartanburg, S. C. 

Atlanta, Ga. 

Belmont College. 

Philharmonic Society, of Nash- 
ville. 

Nangatuck, Conn. 

Philadelphia, Pa. 

New York, N. Y. 

Springfield, Mass. 

Northampton, Mass. (Smith 
College). 

Washington, D. C. 

Utica, N. Y. 

Pocomoke, Md. 
In summer, at Monteagle, in 
charge of School of Oratory and Ex- 
pression. 






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